Multi-container package



June 19, 1962 E. H. MARTIN MULTI-CONTAINER PACKAGE Filed April 29, 1960 INVENTOR;

ELBERT H. MARTIN ATTORNEY 3,039,601 MULTI-CONTAINER PACKAGE Elbert H. Martin, Coviua, Califi, assignor to Sonoco Products Company, Hartsville, S.C., a corporation of South- Carolina Filed Apr. 29, 1960, Ser. No. 25,609

3 Claims. (Cl. 206-47) This invention relates to packages and more particularly to a package for packaging a plurality of containers.

It is frequently desirable to package a pair of containers such as cans, jars, and the like in a single package so that the containers can be readily displayed in a unitary package and sold together. Furthermore, a multicontainer package is convenient to handle for shipment, storage, and the like. Another use for such a multicontainer package arises in the case of compositions which are mixtures of two materials which materials must be combined just prior to use because of deterioration or other undesirable changes that may occur after the materials are mixed. For instance, in some types of lacquers, it is necessary to add an accelerator at the time the lacquer is used. Furthermore, in mixing materials at the time of use such as the above-mentioned lacquer and accelerator, it is important that specific amounts of each material be used in order to obtain the desired qualities in the mixture. Frequently, each material is packaged in measured quantities in the proper size container, but it can be seen that when the materials are sold inseparate containers merchandising is hampered as explained above and there is always a problem of keeping the containers together .until the time of use. It is, therefore, highly desirable that a pair oflsuch containers containing material such as the lacquer and accelerator referred to above be packaged together in a small unitary package which can be readily displayed and sold for subsequent mixing of the materials contained therein at the time of use. I

Many efiorts in the past have been made to provide such a package which efforts have, in general, resulted in packages which are either too complicated and, therefore, expensive to manufacture or do not have sufficient strength to retain the containers together under the rugged handling conditions encountered in storage, shipment, merchandising and the like. I I

Accordingly, the primary object of this invention is to provide a novel multi-container package for packaging two containers together in tandem relationship.

Another object of this invention is to provide a novel multi-container package which permits two containers of I any capacity within a wide range and of conventional construction, if desired, to be packaged together 'in a simple and easy. manner.

. A furtherobject of this lnvention is to provide a novel multi-container package for packing two containers in a unitary package which is rugged in construction so as to withstand rough handling and the like, presents a pleasing and attractive outer appearance, and which. contains a minimum of parts. I

This invention further contemplates the provisionof a multi-container package which utilizes an inexpensive and reusable paper tube for retaining one container filled with a measured quantity of one material in tandem relationship with another container filled with a measured quantity of a second material which materials are to be mixed at the time of use.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will become apparent from the following description taken in connection with the accompanying drawings.

In general, the objects of the invention and other related objects are accomplished by providing a first container for filling with one material. This first container, which may be .a metal can of conventional construction,

Patented June 19, 1962 contains an open end arranged to be closed by a friction plug closure having an annular rim. A second container is provided for a second material which material may be of the type to be mixed at the time of use with the material in the first container. A tubular enclosure is provided for the second container which, in the specific embodiment, comprises a tubular multi-ply paper body having an open end. The edge portion of 'thepaper body adjacent the open end is tapered radially inward by means such as a crimping operation to provide an inner diameter on the body open end slightly less than the outer diameter of the closure annular rim.

The package of the invention is assembled by positioning the containers in a tandem relationship. The tubular enclosure is then placed over a second container and its tapered edge portion is snapped over the annular rim on the closure to removably and frictionally interlock the first container and enclosure together with the second container in a packaged tandem relationship with the first container. I l

The novel features which are believed to be characteristic of the invention are set forthwith particularity in the appended claims. The invention itself, however, both as to its organization and method of operation may be best understood by reference to the following description taken in conjunction with the accompanying drawing in which:

FIGURE 1 is an elevation view of the multi-container package of the invention;

FIGURE 2 is a sectional view taken substantially along line 2-2 of FIGURE 1 in the direction of the arrows;

FIGURE 3 is an exploded perspective view of two component parts of the invention; and

FIGURE 4 is an enlarged fragmentary sectional view 7 employed to package a pair of containers each of which is filled with a material which two materials are to be mixed together at the time ofuse. The package 10 is adapted to package two containers one of which contains a lacquer and the other an accelerator for the lacquer. As is well known, such lacquer and accelerator therefor are mixed together just prior to use particularly in order to obtain optimum results from such materials.

I -As generally illustrative of the invention, the multicontainer package 10 comprises a first container 11 for packaging one of the two materials, preferably the lacquer. In the specific embodiment illustrated, the con-' tainer 11 is a can of conventional construction formed of metal or the'like. -As shown best in FIGURE 2, the other material or accelerator which is to be mixed with the lacquer in, can 11 is placed in a suitable container such as a glassjar 12 and the capacity of the containers 11, 12 is selected so that a measured quantity of each material is provided.

By providing'containers of selected size, the materials contained therein may be mixed at the time of use in the proper proportions without the need for time consuming measuring and the like. .I I

The container 12, which'is positioned in a tandem relationship on the container 11 as shown in FIGURE 2 is held in the packaged position by means of an enclosure 13 which is arranged in a manner to be explained hereinafter to be removably but securely coupled or interconnected to the container 11 in a snap fit to form the multicontainer package 10.

As specifically illustrative of the invention, the container 11, which as previously explained is preferably a metal can of conventional construction such as that type of can employed for paint and the like, contains a tubular side wall 14, a bottom wall 16, and an annular flange designated generally by the numeral 17 suitably secured to its upper end. As is well known, the flange 17'defines an opening 18 in the upper end of the can 11. As shown best in FIGURE 4, the flange 17 includes a portion forming a ledge 19 projecting radially inward and a rib portion defining an upwardly opening annular recess 21.

A closure 22 is provided for closing the can opening 18 which is also of a well known construction. The closure 22 includes a fiat circular portion 23 and an annular rib 24 extending around the marginal edge of portion 23. The rib 24 is receivable within the recess 21 of the flange 17 and is frictionally held therein in the well known manner as shown in FIGURE 4. The closure nb 24 terminates in an annular rim 26 which, as illustrated, is positioned in vertically spaced relationship with the flange ledge 19 when the closure 22 is seated in the can closing position of FIGURE 4.

The enclosure 13 comprises a tubular body 28 having an open end 29 and the body is closed at its other end by an end cap 31 formed of metal or the like secured to the annular end edge of body 28 in any suitable manner such as by crimping or the like. In the preferred construction, the enclosure tubular body 23 is formed of paper or similar fibrous material preferably in a multi-ply assembly in which the paper plies are either convolutely or spirally wound in an overlapping relationship with a suitable adhesive therebetween to build up the desired wall thickness. As can be seen, the length of the enclosure 13 is selected so as to accommodate the container 12 when assembled with can 11 to form the multi-container package The tubular paper body 28 of the enclosure 13 is of a uniform inner diameter throughout substantially the major portion of its length which inner diameter conforms generally with the outer diameter of the can closure 22 defined by the annular rim 26. In accordance with a novel feature of the invention, the tubular-body 28 is formed so as to provide a snap fit over the annular rim 2d so that the enclosure 13 is held removably and frictionally in interlocking relationship with the can 11 with the container 12 enclosed therein in tandem relationship with the can 11.

More specifically, the tubular paper body 28 is provided withan inwardly tapering edge portion 33 adjacent its open end 29. In the preferred embodiment the tapered edge portion 33 is formed by crimping or deforming the .edge portion of the paper body 28 in the conventional manner to permanently set the body in this configuration. This crimping can be done by means of pressure. and heat or any other similar technique to obtain the particular construction illustrated. s

. It will be noted that this tapered portion 33 defines generally an inner diameter slightly less than the outer diameter defined by the annular rim 26 on closure 22 so thatthe yieldability of the paper body 28 will permit open end 29 of the enclosure 13 to be pressed over the closure rim 26 in a snap fit. This snap fit retains the enclosure in the assembled position under rugged conditions such as those encountered in storage, shipment, display, and the like. It will be noted in the preferred embodiment that the tapered paper body portion 33 has its edge 33a supported on the flange ledge 10 when the enclosure is in the assemlationshipwith the can open end 18. The jar 12 containing the accelerator is then placed on top of the closure 22 as shown in FIGURE 2 which jar is of the desired capacity in accordance with the amount of accelerator to be employed with the lacquer in can 11. It will benoted that in the illustrated embodiment, the jar 12 fits neatly on the circular portion 23 of the closure 22, but it should be understood that it could be of greater diameter up to the limit of the inner diameter of the enclosure if desired.

The snap-on enclosure 13 is next assembled by first positioning a section of the tapered edge portion 33 of the paper body 28 over the closure rim 26 and then lowering the body 28 until the entire body edge portion 33 is snapped into place over the rim 26 and securely held therein as shown best in FIGURE 4. A unitary package containing the two materials is, therefore, obtained which will remain in the assembled position under extremely rugged conditions encountered during handling and the like.

As is well known, paper will absorb moisture under high humidity and it may be necessary to prevent the loss of the crimp or taper in the paper body portion by suitably impregnating the portion 33 with a composition which limits moisture absorption. Any suitable composition which will inhibit the moisture absorbing characteristics of the paper body 28 can be used and it has been found that an epoxy resin solution serves this purpose to considerable advantage. The body portion 33 can be impregnated-by merely dipping the open end of the paper body 28 in a solution of an epoxy resin which is subsequently cured by baking or the like.

It can be seen with the novel construction of this in vention that two materials can be packaged in their individual containers and these containers packaged together in a simple and easy manner for merchandising display. When these materials are of the type which are to be mixed at the time of use, the correct proportions of the materials are readily available and no measuring of the materials need be made. The package of the invention utilizes readily available materials some of which are conventional in construction but the container is characterized in particular by beingquite inexpensive in that only a simply constructed tubular paper enclosure need be added to a conventional can and jar containing the packaged materials to give a neat and attractive yet rugged unitary package. Furthermore, the paper enclosure of the invention may be readily reused if desired and when the paper body end is suitably impregnated, the adverse effect of-high humidity conditions and repeated use is avoided.

While there has been described what at present is considered to be the preferred embodiment of the invention, it will be understood by those skilled in the art that various changes and modifications may be made therein withbled position of FIGURE 4 with the closure rim 26 nested V the amount of lacquer to be merchandised, is filled with the lacquer and the can closure 22 seated in closing reout departing from the invention and, therefore, it is the aim of the appended claims to cover all such changes and modifications as fall within the true spirit and scope of theinvention.

Having thus described the v invention, what is claimed is: 1. A multi-container package comprising, in combination, a .firstcontainer having a side wall and an open end having its marginal edge in spaced relationship with said said wall, a friction plug closure positioned in closing relationship with said first container open end, an upstanding annular rim on said closure defining with said side wall an annular clearance space adjacent said open end, a second container positioned on said closure, a 1

tubular enclosure for said second container having an open end, said tubular enclosure including a tubular multiply wound paper body having a bottom wall, said tubular enclosure body having a straight portion of uniform inner diameter extending throughout substantially its entire length for receiving said closure annular rim in snug-fitting relationship and a portion of reduced diameter adjacent its open end, said tubular enclosure positioned over said second container and said closure annular rim with said annular rim in snap-fitting relationship therewith to retain said second container in a packaged tandem relationship with said first container.

2. A multi-container package comprising, in combination, a first container having a side wall and an open end having its marginal edge in spaced relationship with said side wall, a friction plug closure positioned in closing relationship with said first container open end, an upstanding annular rim on said closure defining with said side wall an annular clearance space adjacent said open end, a second container positioned on said closure, a tubular enclosure for said second container having an open end, said tubular enclosure including a tubular multi-ply wound paper body having a bottom wall, said tubular enclosure body having a straight portion of uniform inner diameter extending throughout substantially its entire length for receiving said closure annular rim in snugfitting relationship and an edge portion adjacent said open end tapering radially inward in a permanent crimp, said tubular enclosure positioned over said second container and said closure annular rim with said bottom wall in vertical retaining engagement with said second container and with said tapered edge portion positioned within said annular clearance space and extending under said closure annular rim in snap-fitting relationship therewith to retain said second container in a packaged tandem relationship with said first container.

3. A multi-container package comprising, in combination, a first container having a side wall, an annular flange at one end of said first container supported on said side wall in spaced relationship with the end edge of said side wall, said annular flange extending radially inward to form an annular ledge and defining an open end for said first container, said flange having an annular recess adjacent said first container open end, a circular friction plug closure positioned in closing relationship with the open end of said first container, said closure having an annular 6 rib received within said flange annular recess to frictionally retain said closure in said end closing position, a circular recess in the upper surface of said closure, an annular rim on said closure, said n'm spaced vertically from said flange ledge and defining with said side wall an annular clearance space adjacent said open end when said closure is in said end closing position, a second container positioned on said closure and having one end received Within said closure recess, a tubular enclosure for said second container having an open end, said enclosure including a tubular multi-ply spirally wound paper body and a disc of rigid material positioned in closing relationship with the other end of said paper body, said tubular enclosure body having a straight portion of uniform inner diameter extending throughout substantially its entire length for receiving said closure annular rim in snug-fitting relationship, said tubular paper body having its edge portion adjacent said open end tapering radially inward in a permanent crimp, said tubular enclosure positioned over said second container and said closure annular rim with said tubular enclosure closed end in vertical retaining engagement with said second container and with said tapered edge portion positioned within said annular clearance space and extending under said closure annular rim in snap-fitting relationship therewith to retain said second container in a packaged tandem relationship with said first container,

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 949,708 Jenkins Feb. 15, 1910 1,031,867 Peebles July 9, 1912 1,374,389 Reichenbach Apr. 12, 1921 1,462,443 Brooks July 17, 1923 1,750,334 Stern Mar. '11, 1930 2,154,741 Gray Apr. 18, 1939 2,304,912 Henchert Dec. 15, 1942 2,482,779 Katz Sept. 27, 1949 

